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8BOTUFBE

Contents
Features
This year I will.......................................12
Art on another level................. 18-21
2011 and counting...........................26
Make do and mend..........................30
Baby Sensory................................ 36-37
Garden friends in winter ...............42
A dose of sunshine ...........................52

Stop smoking, get fit, lose weight,
drink less alcohol, eat healthier
foods, become more organised,
pay off debts, spend more
time with the family, learn
something new – I’m sure many
of you have attempted, or at least thought
about attempting, some of these lifestyle changes. I expect some of you
are now struggling – and perhaps regretting – the promises you have
made to yourself for the new year.
The reason these resolutions are so common is because they are
difficult to sustain – if they were easy changes to make there would
be no need to make a special effort. By recognising this fact and by
accepting that success rarely happens by accident, you can allow
yourself some leeway when attempting what can be drastic alterations
to the way you live. A key point to remember is that it can take many
months before a change becomes a normality in your daily routine
– something which is explained in our article on how to make your
resolutions a reality (see page 12).
If financial concerns are at the front of your mind as 2011 gets
underway, then now is a good time to take stock and make plans for
the year ahead (see page 26).
Artists and art lovers have plenty to look forward to this year as the new
Art Group Wanstead – which organised the popular art and craft fair
at The George pub on the High Street last month – seeks to make the
most of artistic talent in the area. It is with pleasure that I am able to
present a selection of works from group members in this publication –
some of which are currently being exhibited in The George throughout
January (see pages 18-21).
I wish you success for any resolutions you
have made for the new year and hope
you have a very happy and
healthy 2011.
Lee Marquis, Editor

The Wanstead Village Directory is proud to support local businesses
and we encourage you to do the same. Our High Street is proof
enough of the individuality that independent retailers can bring to
a town. Help us help these businesses by mentioning the Wanstead
Village Directory when responding to adverts.

a note to businesses...

If you are a business which is based in Wanstead or has a presence in
the local community, then we can help you get your message across to
our readers. The deadline for inclusion in the February edition is
22 January 2011.
The Wanstead Village Directory
is published monthly by
Marquis IT LTD and distributed to
homes in Wanstead, Snaresbrook &
Aldersbrook. Additional copies are
available from local public service
locations and shops on and around
Wanstead High Street.

•Lose weight •Win at sport
•Feel fitter •Keep up with the kids
•Tone up •Get a beach body
•Run a 10K or a marathon
•Train in the park or at your home •Free trial session
•Train with your partner or friends for no extra cost
•Strength and conditioning for sports teams
•Children’s fitness parties

The City of London
Corporation has
appointed planning
consultants Chris
Blandford Associates to
help develop long term
regeneration plans for
Wanstead Park.
It follows the decision
in 2009 by English
Heritage to place
Wanstead Park on their
‘at risk’ register, as they
believed the landscape
was declining and in
need of investment.
The main proposals
to improve the
landscape, historic
features, visitor facilities

and community
and educational
programmes, will
be summarised in
a document called
a ‘Conservation
Statement’ which the
City of London will
then consider taking
forward as a bid to
the Heritage Lottery
Fund. Superintendent
of Epping Forest,
Paul Thomson, said,
“We are looking
forward to working
with local residents
and organisations
to develop the best
way forward for this
important area of
Epping Forest.”

Professional
tuition in
maths &
English
Kip McGrath’s qualiﬁed teachers create
individual tutoring programmes. We help
build the foundations for academic success.

Appeal over
Community
rejected plans heros wanted
An appeal was lodged
with the Planning
Inspectorate last month
against the decision
by Redbridge Council
to refuse permission
for the old Kinema
building on the High
Street to be replaced by
a restaurant and flats.
The Council’s reasons
for refusal states: “The
proposal involves the
inappropriate and
unjustified demolition
of a modest and
relatively simple
Victorian building that
nevertheless makes a
positive contribution
to the special character
and appearance of
the Wanstead Village
Conservation Area.”

Nominations are invited
for the 2011 Safer
Community Awards
– which honour local
heroes who work
in the community
to make their
neighbourhood safer.
There are six award
categories: Outstanding
Individual Award; Extra
Commitment Award;
Young Person’s Award;
Cleaner, Greener Award;
Safer Business Award;
and Group Award.
Nominations must be
received by 31 January
and the awards will be
presented prior to the
meeting of Council on
17 March. For more
information, visit
bit.ly/heroaward

With Christmas
generating an increase
in domestic waste
– extra food, packaging,
wrapping paper and
Christmas trees, to
name a few – it’s
important that we take
care to minimise the
negative impact this
can have and that
we do our bit to save
energy and recycle.

Wanstead and
Snaresbrook Cricket
Club’s fast bowling
Maurice Chambers
– pictured bottom right
in the Wanstead team
photo above – has
been rewarded for a
fantastic season with
Essex and the England
Performance squad by
being selected for the
England Lions squad.

Remember to recycle
your old Christmas TV
guides, bottles and
biscuit tins. Non-foil
wrapping paper can
also be put into your
recycling box, but
remember to take off
the sticky tape first.
Christmas trees can
be collected by the
Council by calling
020 8554 5000.

“Maurice Chambers
is widely loved
throughout Wanstead
Cricket Club by our
members, let alone
by the Essex fans” said
Arfan Akram, Wanstead
Club Captain.
The England Lions
squad will be departing
for a tour of the West
Indies this month.

A three month
consultation by the
Home Office regarding
the proposal to use
the fairground site
on Wanstead Flats
as a temporary
muster briefing and
deployment centre
for police offices
during the London
2012 Olympic and
Paralympic Games,

ended last month.
In order for the
compound to be built
the Home Office is
required to temporarily
amend the Epping
Forest Act 1878, which
protects the Flats from
development. The
Metropolitan Police
has submitted its
planning application to
Redbridge Council.

Your local sash window renovation specialists
Within the last ﬁve years there has been a resurgence of interest in the
preservation of period features. In period houses, the windows are one
of the most deﬁning features. Despite the obvious aesthetic advantages
of traditional timber windows, the desire to cut heating costs and
improve soundprooﬁng has led to their removal in many homes.
A

RE
O

ER
FT

F
BE

McCarty & Smith specialize in the conversion of period timber
windows to double glazed timber sashes, achieving modern insulation
requirements with the minimum of disruption, whilst preserving the
character of your home.
For more information please call:

New Year
New Smile
Transform your smile for 2011
If you aren’t 100% comfortable with the appearance of
your smile then it is worth speaking to the experts at
Longwood House about what treatments may be available.

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Wanstead Village Directory

1

This year I will...
The start of a New Year empowers us to abandon bad habits
and adopt more healthy routines. However, by the
find it is diffi
cult to keep
end of January we often find
difficult
our goals; we are discouraged and go back
to our familiar patterns. nikolaos souvlakis
and sofia Farsati, of Wanstead based Noesis
Psychotherapy Practice, offer their tips for
making your resolutions a reality

i

will loose at least ten pounds, I need to
quit smoking, I will start dating, its time to
move on – do any of these phrases sound
familiar? January is here and many may already
be struggling with New Year’s resolutions that
they hoped would mark a fresh beginning for
them. Psychologists have conducted multiple
studies on self change in general and especially
on New Year’s resolutions. Making a resolution
is an important opportunity for you to enhance
the quality of your life.
What separates successful from unsuccessful
resolvers? After studying more than 700 volunteers,
Professor Richard Wiseman revealed that less than
a quarter of Britons were able to achieve their New
Year’s resolution in 2010. The following evidencebased key points for creating and keeping your
New Year’s resolution are borne out of research
studies tracking successful resolvers. These tips will
increase your will power and motivation:
1. Select a realistic and attainable goal and write
it down. Choosing just one aspect of your life,
which needs improvement, can increase the
chance for success.
2. Develop a specific action plan. What, in
particular, are you going to do differently this
year to resolve the problem? Give yourself time
consider your strategy. Having confidence that
you can keep the resolution, despite any of last
year’s failures, is vital.
3. Keep track of your progress by recording your
altered behaviour. Scientific research shows
that self-monitoring enhances the probability
of keeping the resolution.

4. Credit yourself for
any achievements
regarding your New
Year resolution; each
successful step should be
rewarded with a (healthy)
treat or compliment, this
will keep you motivated.
5. Allow yourself to do small
steps in order to reach your
resolution.
6. Remember that meaningful
behavioural change takes time.
Three to six months are required
before a change becomes routine.
difficulties take you
7. Do not let small difficulties
away from your path. Occasional
slips should be expected. Do not get
discouraged and ensure you recommit
to your resolution. According to a research
study, 71% of successful resolvers conveyed
that their first slip had, in fact, empowered
their efforts.
8. Review your resolution and strategies and reevaluate your motivation.
9. Ask for support from family members, friends,
or fellow resolvers.
10. Dwelling on your slips and blaming yourself
will obstruct the accomplishment of your New
Year’s resolution. Keep in mind that a slip does
not need to be a fail and be positive about your
achievements.

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Wanstead Village Directory

1

Do you love singing?
Would you like to improve
your voice?
Did you know that releasing the voice and singing
helps to relieve stress and tension.
Are you thinking of recording a song for a loved
one and need some help perfecting your vocal
technique?
Would you like to give an original present?
I can help.

Deborah Aloba B.Mus

With 15 years experience as a Singer, Teacher and
Director of Vision Opera, I believe in providing a
safe and supportive environment for you to develop
your singing voice to its full potential.

For further enquiries or a 15 min free
consultation please telephone 07940 384785

Park School For Girls
Entrance Examination for Girls aged
7 years to 14 years

Saturday, 5 February 2011

Our policy of small classes and a high teacher/pupil
ratio is extremely successful. Our examination
results are consistently good. This year, at GCSE 100%
gained 5+ A*-C grades and 50% gained A*-A passes.

Art lovers who live in this stretch of east London won’t always need to
head into town to see new works. They will be able to enjoy original art
by visiting the Upstairs Gallery at The George, Wanstead. By Donna Mizzi

T

he manager of The George, Grant
Thompson, was so impressed with the
work he saw during the first local art trail
in September last year, that he has offered to
make the upstairs of his Wanstead High Street
pub an ongoing gallery for the newly formed
Art Group Wanstead (AGW).

“This is a fantastic opportunity for our artists and
a boon for the area,” says a spokesperson for the
trail and art group. “We’re incredibly fortunate that
Grant is so innovative.”

About 200 people showed work in the trail, but
it is generally very difficult to find suitable public
venues, even for professional artists. Now, visitors
to the high street are being encouraged to call
into the landmark pub, on the corner of the High
Street opposite Wanstead Tube station, to see local
art. Some wintery and holiday-related art is already
being displayed – some of which is shown on
these pages. Themed exhibitions will be changed
regularly throughout the year at this first-floor bar
and restaurant area. There will soon be an official
opening of the gallery.

In order that potential customers can make enquiries about the
work on show, contact details will accompany the work. Already
a Christmas art and craft fair was held upstairs at The George, to
help encourage visitors to wander in and enjoy the new venue.
Other gallery events are being lined up for this year. Keep
looking out for signs outside the pub and details inside.
Art Group Wanstead – an inclusive group of amateur and
professional artists involved in the trail – plans a varied calendar,
to make this area of London more entertaining for local
residents and to draw visitors to our High Street. The group will
also run the rebranded Art Trail Wanstead in September this
year, continuing the work with some of the same co-ordinators
and tutors who organised the 2010 trail.
“This area has so much potential for art,” says tutor Patrick
Purcell. “There’s a lot of artistic activity here, and this is reflected
in the variety of classes, clubs and groups in the area, many of
which are based at Wanstead House Community Centre.”
“Art is for everyone,” insists photographer Ginnette Benedict
Carty, of Blake Hall Road, Wanstead. She is among the energetic
group of people determined to make our local area more
vibrant, even friendlier and an art hub for east London, to
benefit artists, businesses and the local community.
The new Art Group Wanstead aims to help and promote local
artists – professional and amateur – and alert local people to
nearby classes, courses and other art-related opportunities. It
will support and complement art activities, groups and classes
in the area, allowing artists to get together. There will be
exhibitions, selling events, talks, a website for members and a
forum. And that’s just the start.
The Upstairs Gallery will be open during pub hours
– whenever the floor is open to The George’s customers. At
the end of this month, local artists will be invited to submit
art work on two new themes – Love and Food (or Drink)
– in time for Valentine’s Day and Mother’s Day. For more
information about Art Group Wanstead, email Donna Mizzi
on donnamizzi@btinternet.com

Carole Edrich is adventurous in her life and in her forms of art.
This is one of her group of latest works to go upstairs in The
George, to dance in the New Year. They are strips printed on
translucent film, so that they can be displayed on people’s
windows or porches with light shining through. They are being
shown against the The George’s upstairs windows.
Carole also created the large art work that greets customers as
they walk through the main door of the pub. Thousands of tiny
photographs of Wanstead make up the face of one of our most
famous local figures. Step inside the pub and see if you can spot
who it is.

Anyone who has
planned to take up
golf as a New Year’s
resolution will be struck
here by the bonus that
the course landscapes
can offer.

Glass artist Wendy
Green drew attention
to Packford, the
Wanstead High Street
opticians, when she
exhibited her sculptures
in its window during
last year’s art trail. Now
she has drawn the
acclaim of experts at
the Victoria & Albert
– the world-class art
and design museum
in South Kensington
– having been awarded
the ‘Inspired by... 2010’
glass prize by the
museum. Her winning
work, ‘Connect’, plays
with shapes, texture
and light.

Essex Art Club member,
Hilary Garnock-Jones,
enjoys experimenting
with all media and
painting abstract works,
portraits, folk art and
naïve pieces, such as
the uplifting wintery
snow scene shown
here.
Hilary often prefers to
design work in sets,
and has sold her pieces
worldwide.

‘Winter Sunrise,
Wanstead’ was taken
by Ginnette Benedict
Carty, from the window
of her Blake Hall Road
apartment, early
last year. She hasn’t
tampered with the fiery
effect. “The sky was
really that colour!” she
says.

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Wanstead Village Directory

Essex Farmers’ Markets
local produce for local people

The next Farmers’ Market
in Wanstead...
16 January 2011
Wanstead High Street, 10am to 3pm

Trader SpoTlighT...
Paul and Liz Stone, of Rhyne Park Foods,
have been pig farmers for at least twenty
years but decided to concentrate on
farming rare breed pigs in 2005. The meat
from rare breed pigs has a more superior
flavour, which is exactly what the husband
and wife team from Bures, who now
specialise in as many as twenty sausage
recipes, were interested in.
“People are often wary of buying ordinary
sausages, not sure about what exactly
has gone into them”, says Liz, “but if
the customer is looking for pure pork
sausages, they’ve come to the right place
when they visit Rhyne Park Foods. We
don’t use a packet mix like some of the
other producers. With our meat you know
where the pig has come from, what it has

eaten and which cut has gone into which
batch”.
Liz is responsible for making up the
required cuts ready for the markets as well
as the packs of the distinctly flavoured
meats. While husband Paul, generally
manages the day to day running of the
farm. One of the couple’s relatives is also
active member of the production team and
so it is very much a family run business.
Rhyne Park Foods have been regular
traders at Essex Farmers Markets,
enjoying huge popularity from customers
who always come back for more. Farmers
Markets are not only on the rise for their
fresh produce they offer excellent value
for money produce direct from the farmers’

Rhyne PaRk Foods
field and the traders offer the customer
face to face advice and other cooking tips.
Obviously, Liz is keen to support other
local traders and sources her extra
ingredients from other local farms and
traders, including the apples or apple
juice and the vegetables such as leeks,
which also helps to keep food miles to a
minimum. She is keen to enhance their
sausages with seasonal produce only,
which not only means their customers are
offered variety it also means they donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t
need to import produce, again keeping the
food miles and costs to a minimum.
Liz believes that the farmers markets are
the best ways to sell their produce as they
are more customer and environmentally

friendly. They offer customers a chance
to buy excellent quality food at realistic
prices as well as being able to be a more
customer focused, here they can share
tips and recipes and one or two secret
ingredient too.

www.essexfarmersmarkets.co.uk
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Wanstead Village Directory

2011 & counting...

When money is not as plentiful as we would like and when the cost
of living seems to keep rising, it’s important to make some New
Year’s resolutions that will help to improve your financial
situation. Wanstead based Independent Financial
Adviser, patrick McClelland, offers advice
on controlling your finances
in 2011

a

s a starting point, the first thing to
do is to take a reality check and then
get smarter about your investments,
retirement plans and your home. Here are three
resolutions to start you on the right track.

resolution one: “I will accurately assess my
financial situation”
Examine your bank statements for the past 12
months. What do they say about you and your
spending habits? Take the time to make an honest
assessment of where you are. What does your
credit card debt situation look like? Have you been
making sufficient contributions to your medium
to long term savings? If you don’t really know or
acknowledge where you are, you are counting
on luck to make a better financial future, and that
doesn’t work.
resolution Two: “I will set realistic targets”
After appraising your finances, set realistic goals.
If you have debt, look to clear those credit cards
with the highest interest as a priority. This comes
with the caveat that you also have sufficient
sums to cover any financial emergencies, as you
shouldn’t count on being able to re-borrow what
you’ve paid back.
If you have a portfolio of investments, ask whether
they are doing what you expected them to do
when they were first started. More importantly,
what do you expect or want from them today.
If you want a comfortable retirement to be feasible
or to pay your mortgage off early, look to set aside
an extra payment each month. Its better to start

with an amount which is comfortable and can
always be increased rather than starting with an
ambitious figure which you then have to reduce or
end up stopping.
resolution Three: “I will take control of my
finances rather than it controlling me”
If, like many people, you have collected an array of
different plans and policies over time, it’s easy to
get bogged down by all the paperwork that you
constantly receive. One way forward is to look to
consolidate as much as possible, especially if this
can be done on a cost effective basis. Not only will
this provide greater clarity, it will also enable you
to develop a coherent investment strategy. Use
your review to not only assess how you can build
for your future, but to also protect it. If you are the
main breadwinner ask yourself what would happen
if you could not work due to an accident or illness,
and then make sure that you have adequate cover
in place.
Don’t be afraid to turn to someone you can trust
to ask for their help. If no one springs to mind or
you prefer to keep your finances more private,
consider taking professional advice. Talking to an
Independent Financial Adviser can help you by
looking at your financial situation in an objective
way, enabling you to plan for the future whilst
ensuring you have savings for the short, medium
and long term.
As Martin Luther King once said “You don’t have to
see the whole staircase, just take the first step.” And
maybe that’s the trick, decide to make a start and
then go from there.

www.rcds-online.com
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Wanstead Village Directory

0

Make do
and
Men
d

It can’t have escaped your notice that Britain is in a time of austerity.
Setting aside the political rights and wrongs of our current precarious
financial situation, perhaps the time is right to re-examine how our
grandparents or great-grandparents coped with the austerity years
during and just after the Second World War

i

n the 140’s, everyone had to take
responsibility for economising, saving and
salvaging – or recycling as it is known today.
It bound people together as they found ways to
cope (sounds rather like ‘The Big Society’ idea
of today’s coalition).

There was a lot of Government propaganda then
too. Perhaps we’ll soon see leaflets similar to those
issued during the 1940s, urging us to make-do and
mend; offering hints about washing, re-using and
patching; maybe we’ll even see one urging us to
be creative with potatoes, perhaps adorned with a
photo of Jamie Oliver pointing outwards and with
the strap line ‘Your Country Needs You’.

Charity shops and dress agencies may be the
beneficiaries of our new state of penury as we
rummage through the rails in search of bargains.
We’ve had geek chic, now it’s the turn of ration
fashion. Remember, you heard it here first.
So perhaps the news isn’t all bad. We’re a creative
and resourceful lot us Brits and few other people
are better in a crisis. Like the shrub pruned back for
the winter, we may even come back stronger and
more beautiful than before.

Craft Courses

Seriously though, we all need to think hard about
how we’ll get through the next four years of cuts. I
browsed through the list of evening classes at our
local college recently. There were dress-making
classes, basic cookery courses, engine maintenance
and one enigmatically entitled ‘up-cycling: make
do and mend for modern times’. Perhaps these
classes would be a good place to start for those of
us looking to do our bit while we save a bit.

At Wanstead House

According to a recent article in the Daily Mail,
there has been an increase in sales of brisket and
fish paste. Other staples such as custard powder
and corned beef are also enjoying an upsurge in
popularity. It seems we’re forgoing those expensive
deli sandwiches in favour of a packed lunch, before
we return home to tuck into a cheap and cheerful
casserole followed by pudding and custard.

◆ sewing skills
lessons

Certainly cheaper cuts of meat are more popular
at the moment as households try to manage on
less income. More of us are hitting the markets
in search of bargains too. Veg boxes from local
greengrocers are better value than pre-packed
supermarket produce.

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WVD-JANUARY-2011.indd 35

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Wanstead Village Directory

bAbY sENSOrY's
1sT bIRtHDaY
Baby Sensory classes have been running in Wanstead for the past
12 months. With hundreds of babies already graduated from the
programme, nicola archibald, leader of Baby Sensory in Wanstead,
explains why baby development classes have such an essential part to
play in the first year of a baby’s life

B

abies have an amazing capacity to learn
and, as hundreds of babies in Wanstead
have already discovered, Baby Sensory
classes provide the ideal setting for a world of
exploration. By the time babies reach their first
birthday, their brains have already doubled
in size and the foundations have been laid
for all major areas of development, including
crawling, walking and communicating. Babies
learn in many different ways and by repetition
and routine. Baby development classes are
designed to harness and expand this natural
ability to learn through sensory activities that
delight and inspire parents and babies alike.
Imagine taking your baby diving under the sea,
or flying up into space. Anything is possible in a
baby development class and every opportunity
is given for sensory exploration. Dangling fish
become a focus for visual tracking
whilst bubbles help with depth
perception and fabrics for
touch. Space blankets
make a wonderful multisensory aid, fibre optic
stars strengthen eye
muscles and musical
instruments help
with co-ordination
and dexterity. Every
activity is carried
out with purpose
and ideas for how to
extend the activities
at home are welcomed
by mums and dads too.
There are so many things
that new parents can do
to help their baby learn and
develop and baby development

classes can give parents new ideas and activities
to try. Here are a few activities that really do make
a difference:
l Tummy time: Five minutes of ‘Tummy Time’ two
or three times a day can have a positive effect
on head shape and brain development. It also
leads on to crawling, an intellectually important
milestone not to be missed.
l Crawling: Crawling stimulates left and right
brain development, improves overall health,
stimulates the immune system and helps the
eyes work together as a team (crucial for later
reading). Activities such as pillow-mountains,
play tunnels and interesting toys placed just out
of reach will encourage older babies to crawl.
l Language: Talking to babies during daily
routine activities is essential. Responding to
any sound that a baby makes with praise and
encouragement helps them to understand
simple interactions and the art of conversation.
Read and reread picture and story books that
focus on sounds and rhymes. Making animal
sounds is a winner – babies love them.
l Games: Time-honoured games such as ‘Pata-cake’, ‘Peek-a-boo’ and ‘Pop goes the weasel’
are lovely ways to stimulate smiles and giggles.
Research shows that having fun improves
socialising skills and leads to a love of sports and
games in later life.
l Textures: Mouthing and touching objects are
fundamental ways in which babies learn about
weight, taste, smell and temperature. Invite
exploration by introducing babies to materials
with different textures such as citrus fruits,
fabrics and everyday objects such as leather
purses and bags.

l Exercise: Exercise is very important to keep
babies healthy and to develop and strengthen
muscles in preparation for sitting, crawling
and walking. Babies love rowing and cycling
exercises and being massaged from head to toe.
The best time to introduce an exercise activity
is just after a bath or nappy change when arms
and legs are unrestricted by clothing. Besides
developing body awareness and co-ordination,
exercise can also relieve stress and tension in the
joints during growth spurts.

put your hand inside a sock to make a talking
puppet; partially fill a plastic milk bottle
container with pasta or rice (secure the lid) to
make a musical instrument.
There are many simple, but effective activities that
can aid learning and development in the first year
of life. Baby Sensory activities are accompanied
by developmental theory to illustrate the stage
at which a baby is functioning. This helps parents
understand what to expect from their babies and
how best to facilitate their play and learning.

l ideas for play: Simple home-made toys are
often more effective than those bought. The
advantage is that there is always room for
adaptation and ingenuity. Try filling a tissue box
with ribbons or fabric to tempt investigation;

For more details of Baby Sensory classes in
Wanstead visit www.babysensory.com or
contact Nicola on 07834 170 485

Exclusively for babies 0-13 months

www.babysensory.com

Book a free trial session
today!
Classes are held weekly on Tuesdays at
the Wanstead Quaker Meeting House,
Bush Road E11 3AU
For a full listing of class
times and venues including
Wanstead, South Woodford
and Buckhurst Hill or to book
your free, no obligation trial
class contact Nicola today

Too old for Baby Sensory?
Designed for toddlers from 13 months to 3
years, Toddler Sense is the perfect mix of
obstacle courses, exploratory play and
discovery time. Developed by the founder of
Baby Sensory, Toddler Sense is launching at
the end of January 2011. Contact Nicola for
more information.

Contact Nicola on 07834 170485 or email redbridge@babysensory.co.uk

Please mention the Wanstead Village Directory when responding to adverts

Have you got what it takes
to be a FOSTER CARER?
Can you answer ‘yes’ to all
of the following:
ü I can offer a safe home to a child or teenager
ü I have at least one spare room in my home
ü I have a sense of fun and want to work from home
ü I have a commitment and genuine desire to help children develop

Or:

ü I am already a foster carer

If you can say ‘yes’, Ryancare Fostering
will provide at least:
ü Comprehensive ongoing training
ü Regular supervision and support
ü 24 hour personal support, 365 days a year
ü Generous fostering, holiday and festival allowances
ü The opportunity to work as part of a team

Please mention the Wanstead Village Directory when responding to adverts

WVD-JANUARY-2011.indd 41

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Wanstead Village Directory

4

Garden friends
in winter
The British winter is a wonderful
thing, sunshine and mild
temperatures one day and several
degrees below the next. If you
think that is confusing for us
gardeners, then imagine what
it’s like for the wildlife. For me,
gardening is as much about the
creatures which inhabit my plot
as it is about the plants. In view of
this, I like to make life as easy as
possible for my garden friends
Top Bird-feeding Tips

i

’m not the tidiest gardener in the world, but
this turns out to be a bonus in my quest to
help the local wildlife. So you might think I’m
lazy for not cutting down bare stems and soggy
seed heads, but in fact I am providing luxury
accommodation for over-wintering insects.
These in turn attract certain birds and other
insects for whom the luxury accommodation is
more akin to a fast-food establishment.
When you trim hollow-stemmed plants, cut them
into 10cm lengths and bind a few together into a
bunch. Push this bunch of stems into a hedge or a
sheltered corner and insects will find it – a sort of
‘build it and they will come’ construction.
You can also buy some wonderful purpose-built
solutions. My mother bought me an impressively
titled ‘insect condominium’ a few Christmases ago
which has proved very popular with solitary bees
and ladybirds alike.
A gardening friend of mine gave me a great tip.
He suggested placing a couple of ladybird shelters
near my rose bushes so that when the warmer
weather finally comes, early aphids will be gobbled
up by the ladybirds and their larvae.

start with the basics
A good quality sunflower seed based mix in a
tubular feeder is a great starting point and will
attract a wide variety of birds.
add some extras
Peanuts are a good source of protein and fat
and are very popular. Raisins and apple chunks
on a platform will attract blackbirds, thrushes
and other fruit-lovers. Fat or suet is high-energy
and gratefully received by many species during
colder weather. Niger seed in small feeders will
attract shy goldfinches if hung in a quieter part
of the garden.
Check your hygiene
Feeders should be clean and mould-free or
they may spread disease.
Don’t forget water
Fresh water is really important, especially if
temperatures are below freezing.
safety first
Consider placing stickers on patio doors to
reduce the risk of collisions. Protect birds from
cats by hanging the feeders high enough and
removing any potential hiding places nearby.

The London Music Academy is a brand new
Music School which opened in September
2010, offering the highest quality music
teaching to children and adults. Based
at Sir George Monoux College, we
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LIPA 4:19 is the only children’s
performing arts academy in
the UK that is directly linked to
an established performing arts
institution - the Liverpool Institute
for Performing Arts.

BOOK A FREE TASTER SESSION
LIPA 4:19 is a part time performing arts
academy for 4 to 19 year olds offering classes
in acting, dance and singing.
Following the success of our 1st year
at Wanstead High School we are now
offering extra classes for all ages.

Book now
for 25%
discount

Take advantage of our 25 %
Introductory Discount on the first
term’s fee by booking now.
For further information and to apply for a place,
contact Michael on:

020 8472 8845

email enquiry@lipa419wanstead.co.uk

www.lipa419wanstead.co.uk
Please mention the Wanstead Village Directory when responding to adverts

WVD-JANUARY-2011.indd 47

19/12/10 17:35:09

Wanstead Village Directory

4

Sudoku

8

7

How to play

Fill in the grid so that each row,
column and 3x3 box contains
the digits 1 through to 9 with
no repetition.

5

You solvee the puzzle with
reasoning and logic
ic â&#x20AC;&#x201C; there
ther is
no maths involved.

Have a piece of Wanstead
history outside your home!
11 Woodbine place, Wanstead, e11 2RH
Please mention the Wanstead Village Directory when responding to adverts

WVD-JANUARY-2011.indd 51

19/12/10 17:35:24

Wanstead Village Directory

A Dose of

Sunshine

Scientists are coming to the conclusion that we are more
prone to colds and flu in the winter due to low levels of the
‘sunshine vitamin’, rather than the colder weather. sue Blain
explains how vitamin D regulates the immune system and
prevents infections

M

ost of our vitamin D is formed under
the skin in reaction to sunlight, but of
course we must remember to limit our
exposure in order not to burn. It is found only
in a small number of foods, mainly oily fish
(herring, salmon, mackerel, tuna, sardines and
cod liver oil), cheese and egg yolks. Margarine,
breakfast cereals and powdered milk are often
fortified. It is also important to consume raw
green leafy vegetables and a handful of nuts
and seeds daily, to provide the minerals that
support vitamin D absorption.
Vitamin D deficiency is a real possibility these days
due to low light levels, less time spent outdoors
and an excessive use of sunscreens during the
summer. Ideally, 15 to 20 minutes of sun exposure
(depending on skin type) between 10am and 3pm,
twice a week, is recommended during the summer
and longer during winter.
You may need to take supplements if you work
long hours indoors. Take care though, because you
can over-dose on this vitamin as it is fat soluble,
but scientists believe the recommended levels
– 400 international units (IUs) or 10 micrograms
(mcg) – are too low and 1,000 IUs or 25mcg may
be necessary to prevent disease. Others, like
Heaney and Holick (prominent vitamin D scientists),
recommend 3,000 IUs depending on a person’s
bodyweight. In the UK, pregnant, breastfeeding
women and anyone over 65 years old are advised
to take a 10mcg supplement, and babies from six
months to take 7mcg. Ask at your local NHS clinic
about Healthy Start drops.
Vitamin D is best known for its role in calcium
metabolism. Back in the mid 1880’s cod liver
oil was recognised as a cure for the childhood

bone disease rickets, however, not until 1921 did
scientists realise that vitamin D was the component
that cured the rickets.
The encouraging thing about recent studies is the
increasing list of chronic conditions that may be
implicated in vitamin D deficiency such as diabetes,
heart disease, hypertension, mental illness, multiple
sclerosis, muscle weakness, osteoarthritis and
some types of cancer. The Vitamin D Council
has urged doctors to test the vitamin D levels of
patients suffering the above conditions and treat
with sunlight and supplements. In the last century,
tuberculosis patients were prescribed sunshine.
Are Mediterranean people so healthy due to diet
alone, or the extra sunshine they receive? More
research is needed, but in the meantime we can
begin to make any necessary changes to ensure a
happy, healthy New Year.

Travel Insurance is provided by Ageas Insurance Limited.
*Subject to medical screening and acceptance by the underwriters. Age UK is a registered trademark of
Age UK (Charity no 1128267). The use of the name and logo Age UK is done so under a licence agreement
between Age UK and Age UK Enterprises Limited, its commercial services arm. Net profits are donated
to Age UK. Promoter: Age UK Enterprises Limited, Astral House, 1268 London Road, London SW16 4ER.
ID9604 10/10. T2044U1OCT10-CS030975_10

Please mention the Wanstead Village Directory when responding to adverts

WAnstEAd & WOOdFORd
CEntEnARy FiLm CLub
A screening of The Ghost Writer, directed by Roman
Polanski and staring Ewan McGregor and Pierce
Brosnan. Non-members may join the film club at
any of the monthly showings.
Date: Monday 3 January Time: 12 noon
Venue: Odeon Cinema, South Woodford
Cost: The cinema’s usual charges will apply
Enquiries: wea.filmclub@gmail.com

dAvid LAst COnCERt At
WAnstEAd LibRARy
The East London & Essex Organ Society present
David Last, who will be playing a variety of tunes
from ballads to classical pieces, right through to
more up-to-date music.
Date: Wednesday 12 January
Time: 7.50pm to 10.15pm Venue: Wanstead Library
Cost: Members: £4, guests: £6, under 16’s: £1
Enquiries: 020 8530 3717

WAnstEAd FARmERs’
mARkEt
The popular farmers’ market will be returning the
first Sunday of every month from February onwards.
Date: Sunday 16 January Time: 10am to 3pm
Venue: Wanstead High Street
Enquiries: www.essexfarmersmarkets.co.uk

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tHE EAst OF LOndOn
FAmiLy HistORy sOCiEty
Can’t find your ancestor on the census? Come and
listen to this month’s speakers and you may find
out why.
Date: Wednesday 26 January Time: 7pm
Venue: Wanstead Library Cost: Free
Enquiries: 020 8530 4514

Following on from the art trail last year, the brand
new Art Group Wanstead will be organising
ongoing displays of work upstairs at this landmark
pub for all to enjoy. January’s themes are Winter
and Festivities. A fair will also be held at the venue
this month – date to be announced via signs.
Date: Throughout January Time: Pub hours
Venue: Upstairs Gallery, The George, Wanstead
Cost: Free Enquiries: donnamizzi@btinternet.com
ONGOING

tHE EAst indiA COmPAny
And WAnstEAd

An exhibition exploring the historic links between
India, the UK and Redbridge. The East India
Company was founded in 1600 and Wanstead was
home to many of the company’s employees and
their vast fortunes.
Date: Until Saturday 26 February
Time: Wed to Fri: 11am to 5pm, Sat: 10am to 4pm
Venue: Redbridge Museum, Central Library, Ilford
Cost: Free Enquiries: 020 8708 2317
ONGOING

big dRAW EXHibitiOn:
AnCiEnt OAks

The Ancient Oaks of Epping Forest are an
inspiration for artists and conservationists alike.
Enjoy the artwork created by local people in
Epping Forest’s Big Draw 2010.
Date: Saturday 8 January to Sunday 27 March
Time: 12pm to 5pm (weekends only)
Venue: The Temple, Wanstead Park
Cost: Free Enquiries: 020 8508 0028

Please mention the Wanstead Village Directory when responding to adverts

WVD-JANUARY-2011.indd 57

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Wanstead Village Directory

Wanstead United
Reformed Church
Nightingale Lane, E11 2HD

Sunday Worship
Sunday morning at 10.30am

Sunday School, except on 2nd Sunday
of the month when we have all-age
worship. 1st Sunday of the month with
Holy Communion.

Sunday evening at 6.00pm

2nd Sunday of the month with the
Methodist Church at Hermon Hill.
3rd Sunday of the month with
Holy Communion.

Sunday Services
Christ Church, Wanstead Place

08.00: Holy Communion
09.30: Family Eucharist with Nursery Church,
Sunday School and Young People Groups
18.30: Evensong (Except last Sunday of
the month)

St Mary’s, Overton Drive

11.00: Family Eucharist with Sunday School
18.30: Evensong (Last Sunday of the month)
For more information or to find out about baptisms
or marriage contact the Revd Liz Horwell on
020 8257 9204 or visit our website:
www.parishofwanstead.org

Lateral
Thinking
Puzzle
CHanGE your CoursE
americans: “Please divert your course
15 degrees to the North to avoid collision”
British: “Recommend you divert your course
15 degrees to the South to avoid collision”
americans: “This is the Aircraft Carrier USS
Abraham Lincoln, the second largest ship in the
US Atlantic Fleet. I demand you change your
course or counter measures will be taken”
This conversation is based on real events
on a foggy day during WWii. The British
were unarmed and did not move. What
made the americans change their minds?
answer on page 24
Mind bender puzzle answers: 1. Thinking outside the box 2. Man overboard
3. Life after death

A lively family church with
traditional worship an a
welcome for people of
all ages

Every Thursday, 1pm for 11⁄2 hrs at the County Hotel,
Oak Hill, Woodford Green. Ladies & gentlemen are
welcome. No commitment. For more information,
call David on 020 8989 2701

EAst LOndOn & EssEX
ORgAn sOCiEty

Live concerts are held every second Wednesday
of the month from 7.50pm to 10.15pm in the
Churchill Room at Wanstead Library. Performances
from a wide variety of artistes. £6 for guests, £4 for
members or £1 for under 16’s. Call 020 8530 3717

WAnstEAd & WOOdFORd
CinE & vidEO CLub

First, third and fifth Friday of the Month, 8pm at
St. Pauls Church Hall, Chigwell Road, Woodford
Bridge. For more information, please call Martin
Page on 020 8504 9430 or visit
www.wansteadcinevideo.org.uk

stRidEs bAdmintOn CLub

Every Sunday, 3.30pm at Wanstead Leisure Centre,
Redbridge Lane West. For beginners, average and
advanced players. New members welcome. Over
18’s only. Call Mark on 020 8598 8435

Learn to play the oriental board game ‘Go’. Thursday
evenings 7.15pm to 10:30pm at Wanstead House
(except in August and for two weeks at Christmas).
£2.50 per visit (first three visits are free). For more
information call Alistair Wall on 020 8556 4232

LEytOn & WAnstEAd FLOWER CLub

First Tuesday of every month, 7pm for 7.45pm start
at Wanstead Quaker Meeting House, Bush Road.
Monthly flower arranging demonstrations with a
chance to win the flowers in a raffle. Cost: £4.
Call 020 8524 6526

WEstdEnE tAbLE tEnnis CLub

Club nights every Thursday evening from 8pm
at Holy Trinity Church Hall, Hermon Hill. New
members welcome (minimum age: 14). Call Neil on
020 8505 0061 or visit www.westdenettc.co.uk

WAnstEAd HOusE

Local community centre offering a wide range of
activities for all ages. Call 020 8989 3693 or visit
www.wansteadhouse.co.uk

WAnstEAd HistORiCAL sOCiEty

Every third Thursday of the month from September
to May, 8pm at Wanstead Library, Spratt Hall Road,
Wanstead. £3 charge for visitors and refreshments
are available. Call 07949 026212

tHE EAst OF LOndOn
FAmiLy HistORy sOCiEty

Fourth Wednesday of every month, 7pm for
a 7.30pm start at Wanstead Library. There is a
bookstall, help corner and refreshments. Free entry.
Call 020 8530 4514 or visit www.eolfhs.org.uk

snAREsbROOk FRiEndsHiP

Every first Monday of the month. New members
welcome. Call 020 8925 4928 or 01708 743326

LEytOnstOnE, WAnstEAd &
distRiCt PHiLAtELiC sOCiEty

Second Saturday afternoon and fourth Monday
evening most months at Wanstead House. For
those interested in stamps or postal history. For
more information call 020 8989 2885

Campaigning since 2005 for the preservation
and improvement of Wanstead Park. For more
information and to become a member of the
associated ‘Friends of Wanstead Parklands’ group
visit www.wansteadpark.org.uk

COLLEgE AmAtEuR OPERAtiC
sOCiEty (CAOs)

A friendly musical society based at Waltham Forest
College, Walthamstow. Rehearsals take place
Tuesdays and Thursdays from 7.30pm to 10pm.
New members welcome. If you enjoy singing
and/or dancing, please contact Doreen on
020 8539 9474 or for more information, visit
www.collegeoperatic.co.uk

Operatic and dramatic group specialising in the
works of Gilbert and Sullivan – especially the Savoy
Operas. New members welcome (all voices and
levels of expertise) – subject to a short audition.
Rehearsals are on Tuesdays from 8pm to 10pm at
St. John’s Church, Walthamstow. Call Jackie on
0785 2928287 or visit www.cesp.org.uk

iLFORd & distRiCt AquARists &
POnd kEEPERs sOCiEty

Second Monday of every month from 7.30pm to
10.30pm at Wanstead Library, for talks on all fish
keeping topics. Call Ray on 01268414452 or visit
www.ilfordaquarists.co.uk

COuntiEs REsidEnts’
AssOCiAtiOn

The CRA is a non-party-politcal and non-sectarian
organisation, founded in 2006, which represents
the interests of the residents of the Counties Estate
and neighbouring roads in Wanstead.
www.countiesresidentsassociation.org.uk

The Wanstead Society is an independent, nonpolitical organisation that works to protect,
preserve and improve the local area. The
committee meet the first Wednesday of every
month, in Wanstead House from 7.45pm onwards.
To download a membership application form, visit
www.wansteadsociety.org.uk

WAnstEAd yOutH CEntRE

Although activities at the youth centre are geared
to 11 to 25 year olds, it is also used by many other
groups made up of a range of ages. Located in
Elmcroft Avenue, Wanstead. Call 020 8989 1711

ALdERsbROOk FAmiLiEs
AssOCiAtiOn

The AFA is a non-political group which arranges
events to encourage the social life of the local
community in Aldersbrook. Call Maura Cardy on
020 8530 8641 or visit www.aldersbrook.info

tHE ALLAn buRgEss CEntRE

Age Concern Redbridge provides a range of
services in the local community. The Allan Burgess
Centre on Wanstead High Street offers a wide
range of activities for people aged 50+. Freshly
cooked meals also available. Call 020 8989 6338

Grace Church ..............................................54
Our Lady of Lourdes .................................58
The Parish of Wanstead..........................58
United Reformed Church.......................58